Wire-and-picket fence



(No Model.)

B. P. INGRAM.

WIRE AND PIGKET FENCE.

No. 480.101. Patented Aug. 2,1892.

wi/lmmw 5W1) cwH-oz an. @562 B. I 1139mm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. INGRAM, OF BOIVLIN G GREEN, MISSOURI.

WlRE-AND-PICKET FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,101, dated August 2, 1892.

Application filed March 15, 1892. Serial No. 425,041. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. INGRAM, of the city of Bowling Green, county of Pike, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVire-and- Picket Fences, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in wire-and-picket fences; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fence constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a picket having my invention applied thereto.

The object of my invention is to construct a fence that is cheap and durable and one in which any of the pickets may be removed therefrom when they become broken without in any way disturbing the remaining pickets.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 represent two posts, the lower ends of which are buried in the ground in the usual manner and which are adapted to support the remaining part of the fence at a suitable distance above the level of the ground. To one side of the said posts, or preferably the front, are secured any number of Wires 2; but in practice it is thought that two will be sufficient, as illustrated in the drawings. Said wires are secured to said posts 1 by means of staples 3, the legs of which are adapted to be passed through said posts and turned 0r bent on the opposite side of the same for securely holding the said staples to the posts.

It will be understood in constructing the fence that the said wires 2 are stretched in any desirable manner, in order that they will support the weight of the pickets that are attached to the same.

4 represents the pickets, which are of any suitable shape, but preferably square in crosssection, which shape is more adapted for the purpose.

In applying the pickets to that portion of the fence previously constructed-namely,

the posts and wiresthe same are preferably arranged at predetermined and relative distances apart, graduating the spaces between the said pickets during the complete construction of the fence. To each picket are secured two fastening devices, such as 5, one for receiving the upper Wire 2 and the other for receiving the lower fence-wire. The fastening devices, hereinafter described, are so constructed as to allow the pickets to be removed at any time from the fence-wires 2 without in any way affecting the remaining portion of the fence. The said fastening devices 5 are each constructed from a single piece of spring metal in the form of a clasp, which, when so formed, are provided with spring-jaws 6, and the terminal ends of said jaws projecting in opposite directions, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, in order that the said clasp may be passed freely upon the wires 2 of the fence. By the formation of the clasp as above described a circular space 7 is formed for the reception of the fencewires 2, which are adapted to be located therein when the pickets are applied to the fence-wires in their proper position. The median portion of the said fastening devices is provided with suitable openings, through which a screw, nail, or other fastening devicesuch as 8-is adapted to be passed and secured into the picket. Should any one of the pickets 4 become broken or disfigured in any way, the fastening devices of the old one may be removed therefrom and applied to a new picket and said new picket attached to the fence-wires 2 in a manner hereinbefore stated.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with the posts and the wires secured thereto, of the pickets and spring clamping devices rigidly secured to the pickets and adapted to be clamped upon said wire, said devices consisting of outwardly-com vergent jaws having their free ends bent from each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A fence consisting of posts 1, wires 2, se cured to the same, pickets 4, adapted to be removably attached to the said wires at prefecting or changing the said wires, substandetermined distances apart, clasps 5, secured tially as described. I0 to the said pickets and having jaws 6, the ter- In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in minal ends of which project in an opposite presence of two witnesses.

5 direction, and a suitable device for securing BENJAMIN F. INGRAM.

the said ciasps to the pickets, whereby any of Witnesses: the said pickets may be removed at any time 0. P. KELLER,

and a new one fixed without in any way af- JNO. O. HIGDON. 

